The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20

po Speaking lne Ola man lace would witch
with suppressed dissent. He would pull vigor-
ously at his pipe, and exclaim, eyery few min
utes:
'"Hurrah for Bob and the winding up'
when 1 would rise o holy calm
would overspread his features, and approving
exclamations would greet every point made
for democracy. lie was a terrible democrat.
For week he followed up our appointments
when, one day,to illustrate republican thieving
had occasion to tell the story of west Tenn
see farmer. The west Tennessean had large
corn crop, while in the adjoining pasture graz
ed herd of cattle. One night the cattle got
into the cornTeld and played havoc. The
farmer was in rage when he discovered the
damage, and he summoned all his slaves for
an explanation. Every one of his slaves slut
tered. Calling up Bill, his master thundered
"'Bill, by whose carelessness was this fence
left down?'
"W-w-w-h-h-y massa, d-d-d-'
"'Get out, you scoundrel, [ can't take all
day to hear you that way. EpLraim, how did
the cattle get in there?'
" M-m-m-assa, d d-d-c-c-a-a-t.'
Shut up at once, you suffering wretch.
Samuel, tell me how these cattle got in the
field?
"'D-d-d-c-c-o-o.'
"'Damn it, sing it, if you can't talk it,
Samuel was great singer and never slut
so to the tune of odd Hundred he broke
FORTH
"'De COWS jumped over de fence,
An eat up all de corn;
Deys mighty thieves, an II steal
Fore your eyes, sures you're bornP'
''I then declared that the republican thieves
had jumped over the fence into the democratic
corn and were bent upon a
career of devastation. At my ap-
pointment, twenty miles off, the next
day, was again announcing this story, when
i caught sight of my old democratic friend.
He deliberately unloosed his shirt collar,
cleared up his throat, and assumed position for
singing. saw that he intended to accompany
me. Without smile, and just as if had ex-
pected it, began, the old man joining in with
full force:
"'De cows jumped over de fence,
An eat up all de corn;
Dey'S mighty thieves, an IL steal
Fore your eyes, sure's you're born.'
The young preacher from Sequachee took
down the verse to use on the circuit, while the
farmer had it firmly committed to memory.
FROM JOKES TO BUSINESS.
"We have a wonderful state" said the
governor, turning his attention to the cores
pondent. "Memphis sends a million bales of
cotton out to the world; Chattanooga is be-
coming the iron center of the earth; Knoxville
has doubled in population in five years Nash
vile builds up from the united forces which,
singly, have built up the other cities. There
is East Tennessee. with its limitless mines of
mineral and forests of merchantable timber :
there is middle Tennessee reveling in blue
grass, and fringed with iron there is west
Tennessee with the richest alluvial deposits
Thus we have not only advantages in all thAse
requisites to great country, but enough of
them to trade within ourselves, and never call
upon the outside world. We have iron enough
to wall the state and provide its armament;
our grain fields and hog pens feed the people
and leave abundance for export; our cotton
region can furnish the raw material to clothe
the state, while our rolling mills, foundries,
cotton factories, Touring mills and our skilled
artisans can utilize all these varied resources,
SO you see that Tennessee is an empire in
natural resources, in mechanical capacity, and
in population.
"The people Of Tennessee are comparatively
out of debt. Our farmers are not making
draughts upon next year for present support.
The increase of skillful laborers furnishes con
sumption for home products. The peo-
pie are happy and contented, with no
disturbing questions We have had but
one of late-prohibition. The leaders of
that party came to the democratic party, and
declared that they looked upon their question
as one moral and not political. They desired
that it should lie totally divorced from politics,
and to that end asked for separate vote upon
a prohibitory amendment Their request was
agreed to; the question went TO the people
who, by decisive vote, negatived it. There
fore it is now out of politics, notwithstanding
the efforts of few to revive it, and we will
have no trouble with it. The prohibitionists
made pledges which they must keep.
"President Cleveland's administration is
heartily Endorsed in Tennessee. He will be
tho next nominee Of the democratic party,
and will receive a largely increased
vote in Tennessee. AS to the tariff Tennessee
favors tariff reform, but insists that there
must be protection enough to cover the differ
ence between the price of American skilled
labor and that of Europe"
sELF-RIPoRTANCE RECOGNIZED.
AS tie governor lapsed from the discussion
of public questions, into those of minor mo
ment a rare incident, illustrating his versatil-
ity, was narrated by one of the gentlemen
present. A portly, dignifed looking individ-
ual stepped into the governors Office, and
coming to a military halt, said slowly:
Governor Taylor, my name is Erastus
Pogue."
and the governor kept on with his converse
ton. This did not please Mr.. Pogue,
whose opinion of himself was such that he
expected the governors immediate and undi-
vided attention. Without moving step, but
putting, if possible, more dign ~ into his sep
ulchral voice, he said:
1Goyernor Tavlor. I am Captain Erastus
Pogue, the son-in-law of Major Podunk."
"Ah," answered the governor, with grace
full wave Of the hand, 81 am delighted TO see
two"
THE STATE FINANCES.
GovernTor aylor had just returned from
Memphis. whittier he had gone with the state
treasurer TO bOrroW moheytloI inc present NO
cessities Of the state. This loan was made
necessary by the peculiar tax laws Of the state,
under which money does not begin to
flow in until February and March,
though tho states liabilities ma
ture On the first of January. a talk with
State Treasurer Atha Thomas developed the
information that under the act OF 1883 TO fund
the state debt, the funding board has already
retired SO coo 900 Of the old bonds, and issued
therefor in compromise bonds S13,o00,O00. OF
these latter bonds S11,500,000 arc 3 per cent?,
and the remainder are and 6 per cents.
There arc yet to be funded S2JOOO9O Of the
old bonds, Of which 100000, belonging to the
state debt proper bear . and 6 per cent inter-
est, while the two million left viii be funded
ON the same terms as the bulk d them have
been, for 81 100000 in compromise bonds at 3
per cent. The state treasury has
been depleted by the loss Of nearly
100000 occasioned by ex-Treasurer
fT,I - A. bao,,,- avpayeer for tho neyV